LSN : News : Single mothers in China are moving in together to ease the financial burden of child-rearing

Selena Gomez taps Tajín for Rare Beauty’s first collaboration

Rare Beauty partners with Tajin, Global

US – Rare Beauty has unveiled its first-ever collaboration, teaming up with Mexican seasoning brand Tajín on a limited-edition lip and cheek set.

Retailing at £22.30 ($30, €25.80) exclusively in the US, the launch includes two products: Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Chamoy, a deep red-brown inspired by Tajín Chamoy Sauce; and Positive Light Luminizing Lip Gloss in Clásico, a terracotta shade with copper and gold shimmer that nods to Tajín’s classic seasoning.

Celebrating her own Mexican heritage, founder Selena Gomez describes the collaboration as ‘a celebration of what makes us unique – our culture, our energy and the moments that bring us together’. Alongside Rare Beauty’s ongoing 1% pledge to its Rare Impact Fund, the brand will also donate to the National School of Ceramics, an organisation Tajín works with.

In our Collaboration Culture report, we unpack how, in a decentralised influence economy, impactful brands such as Rare Beauty no longer act alone. Instead, they’re leaning in to collaboration over competition, building alliances that unlock new cultural relevance and creative reach.

Look out for our upcoming Savoury Beauty report, which tracks the industry’s nascent evolution from sweet gourmand flavours to savoury tastes and scents.

Strategic opportunity

Go beyond co-branding and design alliances rooted in cultural authenticity, social impact or community relevance to drive deeper emotional connection with consumers

Single mothers in China are moving in together to ease the financial burden of child-rearing

Photography by Simon Kan, China

China – Single mothers in China are moving in together to ease the financial, emotional and practical challenges of raising children alone.

China is home to nearly 30 million single mothers, with divorce as the leading driver. In households where parents separate, only one in six fathers takes custody, leaving 83% of divorced households headed by mothers (source: news.cctv, China Services Info).

Balancing long working hours with rigid school schedules leaves many mothers struggling with ‘time poverty’ and economic insecurity, a new article by Sixth Tone reveals. In response, support groups and online platforms such as Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, have become lifelines.

Posts advertise for ‘roommate moms’ who can share the burden of child-rearing; with parents combining resources while children build sibling-like relationships. This highlights how modern households increasingly no longer fit the nuclear-family mould, with intergenerational living also on the rise across many cultures.

For further insight into how family dynamics are evolving, read more in our Home and Family section.

Strategic opportunity

Childcare brands should develop tools and services – from meal subscriptions to childcare swap platforms – that directly support single-mother households, positioning themselves as purpose-led partners in easing financial, practical and emotional pressures

Stat: Cannabis-infused drinks reshape America’s after-work rituals

SHOR, US

US – A growing number of young American professionals are swapping post-work alcoholic beverages for cannabis-infused alternatives, signalling a cultural reset in unwinding rituals.

A new survey by Drug Rehab USA of 1,000 employed adults reveals that one in three Millennials and Gen Zs now choose THC-based beverages over alcohol at after-work events such as happy hours.

The research shows that two-thirds (66%) of respondents have experimented with alcohol alternatives in the past six months. Almost a quarter (24%) reported having at least partially replaced alcohol with either cannabis-infused or non-alcoholic options.

Although alcohol remains the primary choice for 45% of adults, nicotine (24%), cannabis (20%) and alcohol-free alternatives (16%) are carving out new space in the post-work landscape.

These shifts point to a more personalised, fluid approach to winding down, with younger consumers broadening their rituals beyond alcohol. In our Cannabis Market Update, we underscored consumer interest in the mood-enhancing and wellness benefits of cannabis-derived food and drinks.

Strategic opportunity

Redesign after-work rituals for a generation moving beyond alcohol. How could your brand create functional alternatives that channel wellness, mood management and social connection?